This week is #WorldAutismAcceptanceWeek! Today almost everyone has heard of autism. But far too few people understand what it’s actually like to be autistic – both the strengths you can have and how hard life can be at times.
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects the way a person communicates and how they experience the world around them. One in 100 people are on the autism spectrum and there are around 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK. Autism is a spectrum disorder which means autistic people can have varying support needs. One third of autistic people also have a learning disability. The autism spectrum isn’t linear and many people talk about the ‘spikey profile.’ This means an autistic person could be a leading expert on nuclear physics but unable to remember to brush their teeth or clean their clothes.
Some autistic people will have high support needs, which may mean that they require full time care and support. Some people may need a bit of support with day to day activities, while others live fully independent lives.
With the right support in place, all autistic people should be able to live the life they choose.
Useful Resources:
NHS –
nhs.uk/conditions/autism/what-is-autism
nhs.uk/conditions/autism/autism-and-everyday-life/help-for-day-to-day-life
The National Autistics Society –
autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance
Ambitious about Autism –
ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/information-about-autism/understanding-autism